Which counties in Missouri are people leaving?

25 of the 115 counties in Missouri had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Shelby County had the largest net outflow for its size: 21.1 per 1,000 residents (−124 people). In people, St. Louis (city) had the largest net outflow (−3,749).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 8 of these 25 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 25 Missouri counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Missouri
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Shelby County	−21.1	−124	5,870	−3.6%
2	Clark County	−14.5	−94	6,475	−2.8%
3	St. Louis (city)	−13.5	−3,749	278,144	−7.4%
4	New Madrid County	−8.4	−126	15,086	−7.6%
5	Nodaway County	−8.2	−165	20,174	−4.0%
6	Adair County	−8.1	−209	25,684	+1.6%
7	Putnam County	−7.7	−35	4,546	−3.0%
8	Maries County	−7.1	−60	8,397	−0.7%
9	Sullivan County	−5.9	−34	5,738	−4.1%
10	Mercer County	−5.9	−20	3,404	−3.2%
11	DeKalb County	−5.5	−54	9,795	−15.6%
12	Dunklin County	−3.9	−106	26,855	−4.8%
13	St. Louis County	−3.4	−3,370	990,911	−1.2%
14	Buchanan County	−3.1	−260	83,540	−1.1%
15	Moniteau County	−3.0	−46	15,428	+1.3%
16	Boone County	−2.4	−465	191,746	+4.2%
17	Pike County	−2.4	−43	17,955	+3.1%
18	Pemiscot County	−1.8	−26	14,465	−7.2%
19	Perry County	−1.7	−33	19,093	+0.6%
20	McDonald County	−1.5	−35	23,992	+3.1%
21	Cole County	−0.9	−70	77,908	+1.7%
22	Saline County	−0.9	−20	23,265	−0.3%
23	Phelps County	−0.8	−38	45,247	+1.6%
24	Wayne County	−0.7	−8	10,782	−1.4%
25	Iron County	−0.4	−4	9,318	−2.0%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Missouri are the most people leaving?

For its size, Shelby County: net domestic migration of −21.1 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−124 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Clark County (−14.5) and St. Louis (city) (−13.5).

How many counties in Missouri have more people moving out than in?

25 of the 115 counties in Missouri had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 8 of these 25 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Missouri

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.